[W0ut]

Got my X5 coated...thought I share some pictures.

Took them 3 days to complete. Next week is the final 'wash'. The coat must cure for a week.

Curious on how long it will hold and stay nice.

[Unit]

Lovely mate! Had mind ceramic’d and also Arctic Grey. Looks superb gleaming.

[UpstateCP]

Looks great. Curious as to why it took 3 days? What type of ceramic coating was it? Only asking because I'm scheduled for Opticoat Pro 5 year on Monday and was told it should only take a day.

[W0ut]

Originally Posted by UpstateCP

Looks great. Curious as to why it took 3 days? What type of ceramic coating was it? Only asking because I'm scheduled for Opticoat Pro 5 year on Monday and was told it should only take a day.

Not sure. They had to thoroughly clean it first. Got two layers of coating. It had to 'dry' between two coatings.

They did the bodywork, the windows, wheels and brake calipers.

[Thewolfbmw]

Originally Posted by UpstateCP

Looks great. Curious as to why it took 3 days? What type of ceramic coating was it? Only asking because I'm scheduled for Opticoat Pro 5 year on Monday and was told it should only take a day.

Had what you are having done a week ago. Couldn't be happier.

I'm in upstate NY too.

[Timmer-Bimmer]

I have mine coated as well.

The ceramic coating has two main properties:
1) protection
2) water repellant - hydrophobic (beading)

The protection should last several years.

The water resistance needs a refresher about once a year to keep up the full performance. The person who installed your ceramic coating should be able to do this.

[doctorttt]

Looks very good. May I ask how much you paid for the job?

[UpstateCP]

Originally Posted by Timmer-Bimmer

I have mine coated as well.

The ceramic coating has two main properties:
1) protection
2) water repellant - hydrophobic (beading)

The protection should last several years.

The water resistance needs a refresher about once a year to keep up the full performance. The person who installed your ceramic coating should be able to do this.

What protection does ceramic create? I was under the impression it mainly just made washing easier due to the hydrophobic properties. Would even Opticoat Pro 5 year coating need refreshing? Isn't the point of paying for ceramic to not have to refresh yearly like traditional wax?

[BigFix]

Mines being done this weekend. Does the paint work feel super slick to touch?

[Thewolfbmw]

There is so many contaminants from other cars, stuff on the roads, animal poop and environmental stuff, that the ceramic coating helps protect your cars paint from it.

Yes, there is a need to reload / refresh once or twice a year. Its literally a spray.

To keep your car shining, one has to wax it every other week. If you have hard water, forget about the shine staying longer than a wash or 2.

Ceramic coating solves this.

There are 2 primary forms of the hydroponic properties. One is beading and the other one is shedding. There are plenty of videos to watch outlining the pro and cons.

I had mine done a week ago and I am not sure why I waited so long and wasted hours and hours detailing on my own.

Remember, the less you have to touch your car, the less damage you are doing to clear coat.

[BeeMdblU]

unless I'm missing something, ceramic coating is relatively easy to apply, specially on a brand new car with minimum prep

[Thewolfbmw]

Originally Posted by BeeMdblU

unless I'm missing something, ceramic coating is relatively easy to apply, specially on a brand new car with minimum prep

My dealers pre delivery prep area ran my car through their car wash after if sat all day in the sun. End result was a newly ordered car looking like I had an all you could use water pass at an automatic car wash. Swirl marks where so bad. Dealership was solid, gave them 3 place to choose from for paint correction, they picked and paid. I didn't want them touching it again.

[robby818]

Originally Posted by BeeMdblU

unless I'm missing something, ceramic coating is relatively easy to apply, specially on a brand new car with minimum prep

The coating is fairly easy to apply but even a brand new car will require hours of polishing and prep work before the coat can go on. The time spent on the polishing is what makes the end result look so good. If you just put a ceramic on top of paint that has not been corrected it will look glossier and wetter than without ceramic but it will be no where near as nice as if time was spent correcting the paint as in the above photos. Ceramic in LA costs around 1200-1500 dollars and most of it is for the time spent prepping the paint for the coating.

[W0ut]

Originally Posted by doctorttt

Looks very good. May I ask how much you paid for the job?

+- 1400 euros for complete exterior including wheels and brake calipers.

[DCwell3er]

Looks nice!

[Thawke]

That Arctic Grey is really popping in the sun and with that coating (you can even see hints of purple in there)

I am doing something similar when my G06 arrives but am adding PPF first then Ceramic coating on top (and yes its also Arctic Grey)

[edofloat]

Originally Posted by BeeMdblU

unless I'm missing something, the ceramic coating is relatively easy to apply, especially on a brand new car with minimum prep

I did it myself, took a day to correct the paint, and do two coats of ceramic. I add booster every two months in summer and monthly in the winter. Makes cleaning up the car a snap. I spent about $100 in total.